Apparatus foe handling egg cabtons



Feb; 14, 1928.

L. BENOIT APPARATUS FOR HANDL ING EGG CARTONS Filed Jan; '7, 1927 enozt,"

Feb. 14, 1928.

' L. BENOIT APPARATUS FOR HANDLING EGG CARTONS Filed Jan. '7, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 17/671 tprr Patented Feb. 14, 1928.

UNITEDSTA'TES LEON BENOIT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING EGG CARTONS.

Application filed January 7, 1927. Serial No. 159,693.

This invention which relates to an apparatus for handling egg cartons is concerned particularly with a conveyor mechanism by which a number of cartons may be moved to successive pos1t1ons before operators who. attend to filling the cartons with eggs. It is a primary object of this invention to devise such an apparatus which will be simple, con- \enicnt for use, and rapid in its operation; which will move a number of trays or holders for the reception of one or more cartons each of which may be easily fitted thereinto or removed therefrom; to so position the several trays or holders that the cartons therein will be located in convenient relation to one or more adjacent worktables; and to provide a mechanism of compact arrangement which will have capacity for a maximum number of trays or holders so that the filling operation may proceed most expeditiously. These and other objects of my invention are set forth more fully hereinafter. A suggestive embodiment of the invention is also shown in the accompanying drawings in the manner following:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus in its entirety;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereth'rough taken on line 22 of Fig. 1; i

. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. at which is a detail in perspective shows one of the carton trays or holders detached from the remaining mechanism;

Fig. 5 which is an enlarged. sectional detail taken on line of Fig. 3 shows one carton in process of being filled with eggs;

and

Fig. 6 is a transverse section through one carton and associated tray showing the manner in which the former is held in place.

The present apparatus may comprise a pair of connected frame units preferably made of iron bars ofappropriate cross sec tion. Each frame unit is vertically disposed, and spaced from the other to provide .a mounting therebetween for a conveyor mechanism. As shown, bearings 10 are secured to opposite ends of the. frame units for the reception of axles 11 on each of whichis mounted a pair of sprocket wheels 12. An endless chain or belt 13 extends the length of the frame and passes over two of the sprocket wheels, and may additionally be slidably supported in channel guide members 14 adjacent the top and bottom of the wheels. The channel guide members are shown as supported by the frame units. From 7 a suitable source'of power, not shown, a motion, preferably continuous, is imparted to the sprocket wheels whereby the two chains are caused to move in unison.

\Vith some such conveyor mechanism as has just been described, I associate a plural ity of trays or holders B. In Fig. l is shown a multiple compartment tray, it being obvious, however, that the. number of comiartments is optional. In the construction shown each tray is provided with a base 15 having a length which substantially the distance between the chains 13 and adapted for slidable support upon upturned flanges 1.6 which form part of the guide members At opposite ends of the base I provide depending lugs 17 each having a hole for thereception of a stud or pin 18 which extends laterally from one of the chains, thus providing a pivotal mounting for the tray. The trays, while r sted upon the flanges of the channel guides, are held upright, and in order that this position may be preserved during travel of the trays around the sprocket wheels at the ends of the frame, lmlancing means in the form of depending weights 19 may be provided, as shown.

The upper structure of each holder or tray includes an enclosure which may have two or three walls, the latter, by preference, consisting of sides 20 connected by a back wall 21; other partitions 22 may ntervene between the sides, if desired, to provide 1nultip'le compartments. This upper part of the tray or holder may desirably be made of sheet metal. If the tray is to accomn'iodate egg cartons having the cross sectional form of Fig. 6, it is desirable also to provide in each compartment a false bottom 23 l'iaving its side edges 24 downwardly inclined to provide channels, as shown. According to the construction suggested, the false bottom may be made from a piece of thesame metal sheet which is used for the sides 20 and partitions 22. It may be desirable also to bevel off, as at 25, the upper corners of the sides and partitions at the open end of the tray, so as to facilitate the insertion and withdrawal of the cartons within the compart ments thereof.

An apparatus of this character adapted to receive and handle standard egg cartons. One such kind is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. and comprises two rows of pockets formed! by two rows.

the same levelas the bottom of th'e which is shown in Fig. I formed with an offset end 32 and with a longitudinal converging walls 26 and .2? with intersecting transverse walls 28. In this manner individual compartments each for the reception of a' single egg are prorided. The carton may also have a top which, as shown, consists of a pairof covers '29 each adapted to be folded over to enclose the in one row, and having edge flaps "capable of a furtherfold for insertion between the As shown in Fig. 6, the two covers are bent back reversely so as-to lie along the outer sides of the carton. lhe width'of these covers is such. that their'flaps extend into the cha'iinels adjacent thesides of the compartment intended for their reception. .The false bottoms support the cartons above the base 15,. whereas the free edges of the carton flaps extend close thereto. The mounting thus provided is well suited to retain the cartons securely in position within the trays with the pockets of each carton exposed "ferthe reception of eg 's. v

.idjacent the conveyor apparatus may be arranged a table 30 preferably at a height substantially the. same as that of the top of its framework. This is also at substantially y rays so that the cartons may be slid from the table into thetra'ys, or vice-verse, without the necessity of any lifting. operation. The trays may be faced towards opposite sides of the conveyor apparatus-, if desired, and likewise worktables 30 may be positioned on either side, either for the length otthe apparatus, or forsuch portions thereof as are found most convenient. V

An expeditious method of fillingthe egg cartons is to slide beneath one filler inthe egg crate a transfer plate 81 of the kind This may be handropening 33 permitting the fi'iigers to support the plate body upon its under side while resisting upward movementat the olfset end, with the back of the hand. A

, filler .34 of eggs so placedon the transfer plate maybe arranged-over one or more cartons While positioned within the trays, following which the plate is withdrawn laterally to permit the eggs to drop into the individual pockets of the cartons. n the position shown in Fig. 5 the plate is partially withdrawn. and two eggs have reached their final position the reinainingfour eggs there shownare ready to fall into position as soon as the plateis further retracted.

An apparatus of the. kind herein set forth is advantageous in many respects.

It is compact and may be accommodated withina relatively small space. At the same time it provides working facility for a number of operators, Anendle's's conveyor on which cartons are held upright at all points is particularly advantageous in this respect. With one of the channels receive a carton with its cover such an apparatus cmpty'cartons ma be installed 'sidewise in one tra as it passes down around the sprocketwheels at one end of the ap aratus. G11 coming up at the other end, the filling operations may start. 5110- ceed ing operators may either i111 other cartons which are po'sitioned in trays, or remove those which already have been filled, or supply fresh unfilled cartons for succeeding operators to Work upon- Thepartifcular disposition of each operator, as well-as the Work assigned to him, will, of course, bedea ceive eggs from a supply source, the ar .rangeinent and disposition ot the several parts being such as are'callc'd for generally in the 'claimsfollowing.

I claim:

1. A means for handlingegg cartons comprising a pair of endless chains mounted to "travel in unison,a plurality of trays carried between the chains for travel therewith, a pivotal mounting for each tray, a supportwhere on each tray may slide throughout the 1 straight 7 portion of its travel, balancing meanswhereby each trayis maintained upright throughout the curved portion ofits travel, walls extending around three sides of the tray leaving one end thereof opemand means affording a support in each tray for an egg carton, substantially as described.

2. A means for handling cartons inwhich is comprised a conveyor providing amounts ing for a plurality "of trays, each of which is equipped with walls forming a three sided enclosure with one end openand having a raised bottom withdepending channels adjacent the sides thereof to receive an 'c'ggcar ton having a cover folded back with itsffree edge extendedbclow the carton bottom-into as described.

3. An apparatus for handling cartons in which is comprised a tray enclosed on three sidesand provided with a bottom havin depending channels adjacentopposite sides thereof for the'reception' of a cart-on, the

cover whereof may be reversely bent to exof the-tray substantially tend into the channel adjacent the bottom of the tray, substantially as described.

4-. An apparatus for haind lin' egg eartons which comprises a pair or e dlesschains mounted to/travel in unisoma plurality of trays supported between the chains for travel therewith, each ti'-ay{bei@i%formed to 1 aided back into open position, a sliding support for with or above the support, and a worktable adjacent the supports permitting cartons to be slid therefrom into the trays and viceversa, substantially as described.

5. A conveyor for handling egg cartons consisting of a pair of endless chains connected for unitary travel, wheels at opposite ends of thechains for the latter to travel over, supports between the Wheels on which the chains may slide, a plurality of open-ended trays extending between the chains and slidable upon the supports thereof, the bottom of each tray being elevated above the chains and supports, and a worktable adjacent the conveyor and disposed at an elevation substantially the same as that of the tray bottoms whereby a carton may be slid from one to the other, substantially as described.

6. A means for handling egg cartons comprising a pair of endless chains mounted to travel in unison, a plurality of trays carried between the chains for travel therewith, a pivotal mounting for each tray, a support 1' whereon each tray may slide throughout the straight portion of its travel, balancing 7. A means for handling cartons in which is comprised a conveyor providing a mount- 111g for a plurality of trays, each of which is equipped with walls forming an enclosure.

with an open end and having a raised bottom with depending channels adjacent the sides thereof to receive an egg carton having a cover folded back with its free edge extended below the carton bottom into one of the channels of the tray, substantially as described.

8. An apparatus for handling cartons in which is comprised a tray open at one end and provided with a bottom, having a depending channel adjacent one side thereof, "for the reception of a carton the cover whereof may be reverscly bent to extend into the channel adjacent the bottom of the tray, substantially as described.

LEON BENOIT. 

